Car Sick Remedies

Updated on July 15, 2010
E.T. asks from Torrance, CA
14 answers

My 3 year old son gets car sick when traveling on windy, curvy roads. We've tried a small amount of dramamine and benadryl (not at the same time). I'm wondering if anyone has any other recommendations that work? We have a 45 minute drive on a very windy road coming up, and getting car sick is not fun for anyone! Thanks for any advice or tips.

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N.H.

answers from San Luis Obispo on

Gingersnaps! I get motion sickness and have two daughters who get it as well. Gingersnaps provide the 'dry' that a sick tummy needs and ginger is known for it's 'anti-nausea' attributes. I like Trader Joe's brand. Also, if they do get sick, the best thing I've found is to keep a coffee bag (the kind you put fresh ground coffee in) in the pocket of your child's door or where you can reach for one quickly. They're just like airline sickness bags but more readily available. When I'm travelling with the kidlettes and they use a bag, I can pick one up at a nearby grocery store!

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K.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

Make sure he is sitting in the middle seat so he can see clearly through the front window. Having a focal point in the front will help reduce the sickness, vs looking out a side window. Do not have him watch TV or look at books. If possible, drive during naptime so he falls asleep.

K.
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S.H.

answers from San Diego on

I haven't read any of the other answers so maybe this has already been suggested, but have you tried one of those motion sickness bracelets? I've taken a few cruises and people always highly recommend them. Those and the little pressure point sticker thingies that stick to the inside of your wrist. Check the website www.onestepahead.com, they always have really good things like that.

Best of luck,
S.

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J.L.

answers from San Diego on

try taking saltines and gingerale with you.

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M.C.

answers from Honolulu on

My daughter gets motion sickness, too. Try the wrist bands. They are sold in most drug stores near the dramamine. They have adult sizes and kid sizes. It works by pressing on a pressure point in your wrist. so far it seems to have worked for us!

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E.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

We have 2 girls who get car sick also (they unfortunately got it from me). What usually works is to put the window down so that they get wind on their face, and we have them suck on ginger candies. Ginger ale also helps a lot. When we're on a windy road, we don't let them watch their videos and we tell them to look up and straight ahead. A couple of times, we got them so tired first, then made the drive so that they were sleeping during most of it. Good luck.

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L.N.

answers from Los Angeles on

Have you tried those elastic bracelets for the pressure points? I've seen them in kids' catalogues. I'm sure they're easy to find; I have an adult pair that I wore when I was pregnant and flying on business trips.

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A.R.

answers from Los Angeles on

Ask your doctor for advise not a bunch of strangers A. raised 4 and now have 7 grandchildren A. no hills

H.S.

answers from Cincinnati on

There is a motion sickness over the counter med called Bonine. We used it for our kids on a ship. Works great! Some places keep it behind the pharmacy counter, so just ask for it.

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L.S.

answers from San Francisco on

My youngest has this trouble and I have a few ideas that I learned online. Do not feed him liquids right before traveling (yougurt, cereal with milk, juice is really bad because of the acid). Instead, try toast. Have him nibble on pretzels (my son likes the goldfish kind) in the car if you are comfortable with him eating while traveling. This absorbs the stomach acid. Plenty of fresh air or cool air conditioning is great. Tell him to let you know the second he starts to feel icky and pull over for a 5 minute break. Let him drink fluids only after you have finish the curvy part of the road. Bring a change of clothes, plastic bags and wipes just in case...being prepared is always better that not. I have had to buy a few outfits at Target just because I had no clean clothes on hand! Good luck!

K.A.

answers from San Diego on

At the drug store you can buy accupressure bands that you wear on the wrist. They're in the same section as other meds for motion sickness. I bought a pair for myself when pregnant with my first and tired of morning sickness and dry heaves. They worked so nicely that I wore them for my other 2 kids' pregnancies as well. We have them for the kids too. We've used them with stomach bugs too. Might be worth a try.

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A.D.

answers from San Diego on

I'm sure this is silly, something you have already done at the very least, so I apologize if it's one of those "duh" comments. My daughter will get sick in the car if her car seat is behind the passenger seat rather than in the middle of backseat. If she can look forward, rather than out the side window, it seems to make a huge difference. We also used to talk her through looking ahead - pointing at things out the front window - at least for awhile.

It sounds like your situation is much worse but I thought I'd just throw that out there.Good luck!

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L.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

I always got car sick and the best thing for me was to be able to look straight out the front window (I often sat in the front because I'd get less sick) and to have cool air blowing on me. My son gets sick now too and we give him dramamine or bonine for kids about 1/2 hour to an hour before we get in the car or fly. He sits in the middle in the back seat so he can see out the front window. I would also eat plain white bread and drink coke or ginger ale - that always helped.

Good luck!!

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D.K.

answers from State College on

Sea bands, is one of the brands of acupressure bands that Katrina mentioned work well. They just go around the wrist and have a little ball that sits on the pressure point on the inside of the wrist. I think they only make one size, so they may be a little big for a three year old.

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